Hall of Fame Shortlist

Alec Evans (1960s/Coach)

A tough but unlucky forward who had a long career in the Queensland team, Alec Evans was extremely popular with the Brisbane crowds and was an outstanding servant of Queensland Rugby.

Going from Souths first grade into the Queensland line-up in 1959 at age 20, Evans played for the State for 11 consecutive seasons until 1969. With a total of 62 games for his State this record was unsurpassed until Queensland started playing teams from outside of Australia on a regular basis.

A tough and loyal player, Evans left the field with a dislocated shoulder in the 1965 match against South Africa in Brisbane, only to return to finish it moments later with his arm strapped to his side.

On retiring from playing, Evans became a coach of international renown. He was a member of the coaching staff for the Wallabies dominant sides of the 1980s, and finished his career as an assistant to Queensland's Super Rugby winning team of 2011. in between, he excelled at every level of the game and in every corner of the globe. Locally, he coached three clubs to Hospital Cup premierships (Wests, Souths, Gold Coast Breakers), as well as being in constant demand as a mentor for any number of school and club sides.

Allen “Butcher” Oxlade (1900s/10s)

A courageous, highly competitive front-row forward whose fire more than compensated for his weight in matches for Queensland and Australia just after the turn of the century.

Known as “Butcher”,Oxlade was regularly selected in Queensland state sides from 1902, making 28 appearances in a twelve-year state representative career. He first played against an international side when the touring All Blacks of 1903 met Queensland in a tour match.

He claimed four international Rugby caps for Australia, making his Test debut against Great Britain, in Brisbane, on 23 July 1904. He was selected the next year on Australia's first ever Rugby tour of New Zealand. When the All Blacks toured Australia in 1907 Oxlade was selected as captain for the second test in Brisbane.

Keith “Arch” Winning (1940/50s)

A nuggety, strongly built back-row forward with outstanding leadership qualities, Keith “Arch” Winning made his debut for Queensland in 1946, aged 17.

In 1947 he was selected for the Wallabies tour of Britain, France and North America. “Arch” Winning played Provincial matches on this trip but did not play any Test matches as injury unfortunately ruled him out. Upon returning he bounced back as Queensland’s Captain in succession to Bill McLean in 1951.

In 1951, he also captained Australia in his only Test against New Zealand.

Ben Tune (2000s)

Ben Tune first played for Queensland in 1995 going on to earn 112 caps for the State.

Tune was in the Queensland team in the inaugural year of the Super 12 competition in 1996.

After playing in the first season of Super 12, Tune went on to make his test debut that same year, playing Wales.

Tune was an important member of the Australian side that claimed the 1999 Rugby World Cup in Wales, scoring a try in the final against France.

He was named on the right wing in the Wallaby Team of the Decade.

At the end of his career had scored 24 tries in 46 tests for the Wallabies.

Bill McLean(1930/40s)

Bill McLean was a brave and resourceful forward of rare and technical skill who captained Australia in four of his five Tests.

McLean remains one of the most respected men in Australian Rugby despite his talents enjoying only a brief airing at the international level due to a career studded with cruel luck.

Debuting for Queensland in 1939, McLean was also a part of the Wallabies who made the long voyage to England in the same year only for World War II to break out the day after they landed on English soil.

McLean was one of the few former Wallabies who was available to play first class Rugby after the war, captaining Australia in the initial post-war Test against New Zealand in Dunedin in 1946.

According to Bill McLean’s former teammates, he could kick a football further than any Australian who ever played Rugby.

In retirement, Bill McLean successfully coached Queensland, and was named in QRU’s Team of The Century.

Bob McCowan(1880/1890s)

Bob McCowan played 24 games for Queensland between 1893 and 1900 captaining Queensland on seven occasions.

He was a fullback of speed, strength and courage who tackled stoutly and kicked accurately. McCowan was the best fullback Queensland has ever produced, according to Tom Welsby, in the 1932 annual review.

In 1899, McCowan was one of ten Queenslanders who represented Australia in the second Test in Brisbane against Great Britain, captaining Australia in this first Test ever to be played in Brisbane.

Bob Templeton(Coach)

The Godfather of Queensland Rugby’s Golden Era during the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, Templeton coached Queensland in 233 matches during a period spanning 26 years, first taking the reins in 1962 and helping the Reds to become a leading force in provincial rugby.

In addition to coaching the GPS and University clubs to Hospital Cup victories, he served as a coach at clubs and provinces all around the world, and was still very active on the Queensland and Australian Rugby scene up until his sudden passing in 1999. He served as President of the QRU from 1996 until his death.

Templeton coached the Wallabies in 29 Tests from 1971-81. He was assistant coach from 1988-95, helping to orchestrate Australia's first Rugby World Cup triumph at Twickenham in 1991.

He received an MBE for his services to Rugby and was also widely respected in business circles, serving as the chairman of a leading company.

Bob Willcocks(1910s)

The youngest player to represent Queensland, at 16 and while still a student at Brisbane Grammar, Willcocks had his career cut short by the outbreak of World War I.

Considered by many to be the finest back on the pre WWI period, Willcocks would later serve as a President of QRU, as well as a state selector.

Brendan Moon(1980s)

Playing for Queensland in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Brendan Moon played 100 games for Queensland.

The finest winger of his generation, and arguably of all time, Moon was a truly dependable member of the all conquering Queensland sides of the late 1970s and early 1980s. He was an automatic selection for the QRU Team of The Century. Moon was known as a splendid positional player with exceptional acceleration, tremendous defensive skills and his ability to remain on his feet while being tackled.

Playing his first Test for the Wallabies in Christchurch on Australia's 1978 tour of New Zealand, he became the leading Australian try-scorer in Test Rugby with 12 tries from 25 international appearances, including the famous victories of the 1980 Bledisloe Cup, 1984 Grand Slam and 1986 Bledisloe Cup in NZ.

Educated at Marist College Ashgrove and a player for Brothers in Brisbane, Moon went on to coach for many years after his retirement.

Brian Ford(1950s)

Brian Ford played for Queensland for three seasons in the late 1950’s and in one Test for Australia against New Zealand.

In 1957 Ford was handed the distinction of being the youngest ever player to make his Wallabies Test debut at the tender age 18 years and 3 months, and was the sole Queensland representative in the second Test in Brisbane.

A Life Member of the Souths club in Brisbane, his dedication and commitment to the game continued until his passing in 2011.

Chilla Wilson (1950s)

Dr Charles “Chilla” Wilson was an enterprising breakaway with a good turn of speed, adept in supporting players who made a break, a footballer of spirit and stamina.

Involved in Rugby for over 40 years, he has brought long experience as a player and coach.

Chilla Wilson played for University while he studied medicine, and toured Japan and New Zealand with the Australian Universities team in 1954 and 1956. He made his debut for Queensland in 1952, holding his place until 1959.

Wilson first played for Australia in 1957 in Sydney against New Zealand. On the 1958 tour of New Zealand he captained Australia before leaving for five years postgraduate study in Scotland and England.

On returning to Australia, he became captain-coach of Wests, manager of Queensland in 1968, and a Queensland selector for four years. Perhaps his most notable post playing achievement was as manager of the all-conquering Wallaby sides of the 1980s, including the 1984 Grand Slam tour and 1986 Bledisloe Cup victory in NZ.

Chris Latham (2000s)

Chris Latham moved to Queensland from NSW in 1998, beginning a highly successful career with the Reds where he received the Australian Super 12 Player of the Year award three times (2000, 2003 and 2004).

In 2005 he became the 21st player to win 100 caps for Queensland, going on to win a total of 119 Queensland caps in his career. He also won the Stan Pilecki Medal on four occasions, a feat achieved by no other player to date.

Latham made his international debut for Australia against France in 1998 and represented Australia in the 1999, 2003 and 2007 Rugby World Cups.

In February 2006, he was named in the Australian Rugby Sevens team to compete at the 2006 Commonwealth games, to be held in Melbourne.

Latham was widely regarded as one of the best fullbacks in the world, and in 2006 was nominated by the International Rugby Board for player of the year as well as being awarded the John Eales Medal, the first back to be awarded the medal.

Dan Crowley (1990s)

Dan Crowley debuted for Queensland in 1987 earning over 100 caps for the State during his Rugby career.

Crowley made his first appearance for the Wallabies at age 23 in 1989 in the first match of the British and Irish Lions Test Series. He played for the Wallabies 38 times including the 1991 and 1995 Rugby World Cup Team, and the 1999 Rugby World Cup Squad.

Crowley finished his international career as a double world champion, as his last game was the final against France, which Australia won 35 to 12.

He is now one of the Reds' most capped players with 124 caps for the State. He was also named on the bench of the Wallaby Team of the Decade.

Daniel Herbert (2000s)

Daniel Herbert debuted for Queensland in 1993 amassing a total of 124 caps for the Queensland Reds during his career.

Herbert made his test debut at the age of 20 against Ireland in 1994 going on to win 67 caps for Australia and establishing himself as the world's premier outside centre.

He was a key member of the Australian side that won the 1999 Rugby World Cup and was named in the 'Team of the World Cup 1999' alongside his centre partner, Tim Horan. He was also awarded the coveted 'L'equipe International Player of the Year' in that same year.

In 2001 Herbert was promoted to the role of Queensland Captain and Australian Vice-captain and scored a brace of tries in the third and deciding British and Irish Lions Test that helped the Wallabies to their first ever series victory over the Lions.

Known for his aggressive defence and line-breaking ability Herbert revolutionised the role of a modern day outside centre.

He was a vital part of the 'Golden Era' of Australian Rugby which celebrated a World Cup victory, a British Lions series victory, a Tri-Nations Trophy and five consecutive Bledisloe Cups.

David Codey (1980s)

David Codey made 13 Test match appearances for the Wallabies between 1983 and 1987. He captained the team in a Bledisloe Cup Test, after the inaugural 1987 Rugby World Cup.

Codey first played for Queensland in 1983, after representing NSW earlier that year. He is believed to be the first and only player to do so.

An aggressive defender, Codey was the first large blindside flanker selected for Australia, in order to combat the bigger flankers traditionally chosen by international opponents. This was a tactic that was one of the factors in Australia’s rise to the top of world Rugby in the 1980s, via the Grand Slam of 1984 and Bledisloe Cup win in 1986.

Codey coached at club and school level for a decade after his retirement, helping to bring through many of Queensland's stars of the 1990s and 2000s.

David Wilson (1990s)

David Wilson first came to prominence in 1985 when he was selected in the 1985 all conquering Australian Schoolboys team as Vice Captain.

After making his debut for Queensland in 1989, Wilson was selected later the same year to tour with the Wallabies to Canada and France but it wasn’t until 1992 when he made his debut with the Wallaby side in the home test against Scotland and was a regular starter in the national side from then on.

David was a vital part of what many consider to be the best Wallaby side of all time throughout those 1998,1999 & 2000 seasons where the team won everything on offer.

Through his career he won every international trophy available to an Australian test player including Bledisloe Cup series wins in 1992, 94, 98, 99 & 2000, the 1999 win as Captain, a Rugby World Cup win in 1999 & finally a Tri Nations series win in 2000.

During his career, Wilson won a total of 105 caps for Queensland and 79 for the Wallabies, captaining the Wallabies on nine occasions.

Doug McLean Snr(1900s)

Doug McLean Snr was a pioneer Australian representative Rugby Union and Rugby League footballer, a dual-code international.

He debuted for Queensland in 1900 and played 21 games for the State between 1900 and 1906.

He captained Queensland in four matches and earned his debut as a centre with the Australian representative team playing Great Britain, in Brisbane in 1904.

In 1905 McLean toured New Zealand with the Australian Team, scoring five tries.

Eddie Thompson (1920s)

Eddie Thompson was a rugged prop-forward who played a major role in the revival of Queensland Rugby in 1929, and was in one of Australia’s best teams.

He was made vice-captain of Queensland in 1929 for his first inter-State match against NSW. He later captained his state also.

Although in his first season of representative Rugby, Thompson played for Australia in all three Tests in 1929 defeating New Zealand on all three occasions.

Frank Ivory (1880/1890s)

Frank Ivory was the first Indigenous Rugby player to represent Queensland when he debuted against New South Wales at the Brisbane Exhibition Ground on September 2, 1883. The Frank Ivory Medal is awarded to the best player in the Reds’ Indigenous Match each year.

Ivory was born in 1871 in Maryborough to Scottish landowner Francis Ivory, and an unnamed Aboriginal mother. It is historically understood that Francis and his brother Alexander brought the game of Golf to Queensland at this time.

As captain of Maryborough against Brisbane in 1893, Frank caught the attention of selectors and played in the first state side under the newly named Queensland Rugby Union. He played also in the following year. It appears that for some of his life he resided in Scotland, and returned to Queensland later in life dying in 1957 in Mt Perry.

28th July 1894 Full Back v New South Wales, Sydney Cricket Ground,
Lost 12 - 20

Frank Nicholson (1900s)

Frank Nicholson, was a prop who played thirteen times for Queensland between 1900 and 1904, with twelve of these matches played against New South Wales. His Rugby career was interrupted by the Boer War effort.

He appeared for Queensland against the touring New Zealanders in Brisbane in August 1903 and two weeks later made his international debut against the same tourists in Sydney, on 15 August 1903.

In 1904 he captained Queensland in the inter-state series and played alongside his brother Fred who scored a try in that match. Later that season he had the honour of captaining Australia in a Test match against a touring British Lions side. Australia lost the match 17-0. Nicholson was selected in a 1905 squad that toured New Zealand but he did not play in any matches of the tour.

He left Australia in 1905 going to Philadelphia to study dentistry. Upon his return in 1911 be became a selector and coach of the Queensland state side.

Geoff Shaw(1970s)

Geoff Shaw debuted for Queensland in 1977, following a tour to France with Queensland coach Bob Templeton, after already having a successful Rugby career playing for New South Wales and Australia.

In the years before Shaw joined the Queensland team, he had established himself as one of Australia’s most experienced footballers, playing against all Rugby nations except the newly emerged Argentina.

A wholehearted tackler with great natural anticipation, Shaw made 47 appearances for Queensland and 87 for Australia.

A player who could develop aspiring Queensland youngsters, Shaw became a well-established coach upon retirement.

Graham Cooke(1930/1940s)

Graham Cooke was a powerful Darling Downs raised second-rower, whose representative career spanned from 1932-1947. One of the tough men of Queensland and Australian Rugby, Cooke was rated by great Toowoomba coach William “King” Renwick as the greatest forward Australia has produced.

Winning his first Queensland representative jersey while playing in Toowoomba in 1932, Cooke made such a big impression he went into the Australian second row for all three Tests against New Zealand that season, at the tender age of 20.

Travelling to South Africa with the Wallabies in 1933, Cooke enjoyed it so much he stayed on to play regularly for Transvaal. On returning to Australia in 1938, he regained his position in the Queensland team and played for Australia again against New Zealand and touring to Britain, France and North America post World War II, in 1947.

Holding the record of time between Test selections (1933-46), Cooke was inducted into the Queensland Sport Hall of Fame in 2012.

Harry Scarr (1880/1890s)

Jason Little (1990s)

Jason Little debuted for Queensland in 1989 and went on to win 107 Queensland Caps.

He made his Test debut at the age of 19 against France in 1989 on the Australian tour to Europe. In three quarters of his caps he partnered with Tim Horan, who was also his partner at Souths Rugby in Brisbane in the late 1980s and also for the Queensland Reds.

Together he and Horan composed a fearsome centre partnership for Australia which came to the fore during the Rugby World Cup 1991, won by Australia, and were widely regarded as the best centres in the world through the early 1990s, adding the Bledisloe Cup to their collection in 1992.

Little won 75 caps playing at centre for Australia between 1989 and 2000 captaining the side on one occasion. He also won caps on the wing later in his career.

Jimmy Clark (1930s)

Jimmy Clark made his state representative debut for Queensland against a visiting British side in 1930. He made fifteen appearances for Queensland between 1930 and 1934.

In 1931, he was picked in the national team to tour to New Zealand as vice-captain to Syd Malcolm. He played in seven of the tour's ten matches including two Tests. He captained the side against NZ Maori, a game later awarded Test status, making him an official Wallaby Test captain.

At the end of his Rugby career, Clark had appeared in a total five Tests for Australia.

John Connolly (Coach)

John Connolly’s first major coaching position was with the Brothers club in Brisbane in 1983, taking out the 1987 Hospital Cup after losing the 1986 decider to Souths.

Subsequent roles came to him as he was appointed as the Under 19s and Under 21s Queensland coach. In 1989, Connolly took over from the legendary Bob Templeton as the coach of the Queensland Reds. During his time with Queensland, the side won the Super Six in 1992 and the Super 10 Championship in 1994 and 1995, as well as dominating NSW at interstate level.

With the inception of the Super 12 competition in Australia in 1996, Connolly continued his position at the Queensland Reds. The Reds won the minor premiership that year, and Connolly went on to win the Super 12 Coach of the Year award in both 1998 and 1999, the Reds also winning the minor premiership in 1999.

Over his twelve years in charge of the Reds, Connolly amassed a winning record unsurpassed by any other.

In 2006 Connolly was appointed as coach of the Australian team, after controversially unsuccessful bids for the role in the 1990s, where in his first Test Australia defeated England in the first of two games in Australia.

Jules Guerassimoff (1960s)

Jules Guerassimoff was a colourful Queensland loose forward who played first grade club Rugby for 20 years, winning a number of premierships with the University club. At his best in the 1960’s, Guerassimoff was possibly the most devastating tackler in world Rugby, and one of the best flankers Australia has produced.

Jules Guerassimoff started his record sequence of 74 games for Queensland in 1962, and debuted for Australia on the South African tour of 1963.

A relentless, dynamic and punishing tackler, who used all his weight to bury halfbacks with fair, copybook tackles, only the most stout-hearted were chosen to play against him.

Ken Donald (1960s)

Ken Donald was an exciting winger who used his pace to set point-scoring records in the Brisbane club football and score exciting tries for Queensland and Australia.

Donald played for Queensland from 1957 until 1961 and in 1959 scored a record 235 points for University in club football.

His international career began with a Test against New Zealand in 1957 and he was a part of the touring Wallaby team to Britain, France and North America in 1957-58 where he scored a total of 11 tries on the tour.

Donald retired at 25, but returned nine seasons later to win back his place in the Queensland team, an effort ranking among the most remarkable comebacks in Australia’s Rugby history.

Kevin Hodda (1940s)

Kevin Hodda made his debut for Queensland in 1946. Hodda forced his way into the Australian team in his first season of representative football and was named as the Australian team Hooker on the Wallaby tour of New Zealand in 1946.

Suffering a knee injury in the first game of the tour he was unable to play again but remained involved in Rugby in Queensland as an administrator.

He was treasurer of the Queensland Rugby Union from 1955 to 1966 and was elected a life member of the QRU.

Lloyd McDermott (1960s)

Lloyd McDermott was by no means an ordinary Rugby Union player. He was the first Aboriginal player to represent his country. Pride was close to, if not the most, admirable characteristic of McDermott as a player.

He joined the University Rugby Club after completing school and played there for five years while completing his Law degree. In 1962, McDermott debuted for Queensland.

In 1962, he was selected as a winger for the Wallabies, making his pride in his Aboriginal background clear to everyone in Australia by opting not to play as an ‘honorary white’ on the South African tour.

Lloyd McDermott was a man of iconic strength and is also noted as the first Aboriginal barrister.

Lloyd’s personal achievements serve as an inspiration to young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people throughout Australia. The Lloyd McDermott Rugby Development Team was established with the goal of introducing Rugby Union to young Indigenous men and women across Australia in hopes of coupling athletics with academics.

It is named in his honour as Lloyd McDermott is evidence that a balance between your sporting pursuits and education can be achieved.

Alonzo “Lonnie” Spragg (1900s)

Alonzo “Lonnie” Spragg was a brilliant, polished winger or centre-three-quarter, acknowledged as one of the finest players in the early years of Australian Rugby.

He played for the Wallaroo Club and five times for NSW in 1898 and 1899, and then joined Brisbane City and Norths Clubs.

From the moment he entered the Queensland team in 1900, Spragg by sheer merit and brilliant endeavour was recognised as a goal-kicker.

When the 1899 Australian team to play the British Isles side was being selected, Spragg’s name was the first decided upon.

That said, he made his Test debut against the British Isles, in Sydney, on 24 June 1899, the inaugural Rugby Test match played by an Australian national representative side.

Dying tragically at the young age of 24, Spragg was remembered as possessing rare gifts, denoting a special aptitude for the game. He had a splendid kick, either place or drop and was eager and capable on defence.

Neil Betts (1950s)

Neil Betts was a broad-shouldered, bull-necked Brisbane prop-forward who overcame strong opposition to play for Australia in three Tests. He gave Australian Rugby staunch service, and between 1948 and 1956, played a then record of 46 games for Queensland.

Debuting for the State in 1948 he was made captain of the side in 1954.

Betts won selection in the Australian team in 1951 when he went into the front row with fellow Queenslander Nev Cotterell.

In 1969 Betts was made a life member of the Queensland Rugby Union after he had been President of Souths Rugby Club for 11 years.

Nev Cottrell Snr (1950s)

Nev Cottrell Snr was a skilful scrummager and determined tackler who debuted for Queensland in 1946 where he played for nine years.

Selection into the Australian team was not easy for Queenslanders at this time, however Cottrell’s skill ensured he was usually one of the first Test players picked.

Cottrell was made captain of Australia in 1950 against the British Isles.

Retiring from Rugby in 1955 for business reasons, Nev is remembered to have played like a runaway train and was one of the best hookers to represent his country.

Peter Slattery (1990s)

A product of Brisbane State High School, Peter Slattery debuted for Queensland in 1985 and went on to win 109 caps for his state. He captained the Reds to famous victories in three of the first four Super Rugby competitions, as the leader of what many consider the best Queensland side of all time.

An extremely skilful, fast and tenacious scrum half, Slattery also won numerous Hospital Cups with the Wests and University clubs.

Slattery debuted for Australia in 1990 earning 17 Test caps. During the 1991 Rugby World Cup win, he was the starting scrum-half for most of Australia’s games, as captain Nick Farr-Jones recovered from injury.

A popular player on and off the field, Slattery has remained involved in the game as a coach and administrator, as well as some media duties.

Rod McCall (1990s)

From St Columban’s College and the famous Brothers club, Rod McCall made his debut for Queensland in 1986, where he would go on to win 107 caps for his state. A tight forward and lineout leader of the highest quality, McCall was a permanent fixture and a captain during possibly Queensland Rugby’s finest period.

Having first toured with the Wallabies in NZ in 1986, McCall made his Test debut for Australia in 1989, on tour against France. He played a total of 40 times for Australia from 1989 to 1995, including winning the 1991 Rugby World Cup and 1992 Bledisloe Cup series.

He played in the Reds' first ever professional game in the Super 12 of 1996 against the Otago Highlanders on 3 March, during his final season as a player. McCall acted as a players representative during the game’s change to professionalism, and continued this interest in the game through roles on the ARU and RUPA Boards. In 2009, he joined QRU as Chairman and has been instrumental in the return of Queensland Rugby to the top the tables both on and off the field.

Stan Pilecki (1970s)

Stan Pilecki debuted for Queensland in 1970, after his family emigrated to Australia from Poland in 1950. He was schooled at Marist College Rosalie, and the first Old boy to play for the Wallabies, and is a stalwart of the Wests club.

A tough character on the field, and a charismatic one off of it, Pilecki set a number of records during his career, becoming the first player to play 100 matches for Queensland in 1982, eventually winning 122 caps in total. He was the first player of Polish descent to play for Australia when he made his debut for the Wallabies in 1978 against.

A tough prop forward, a loyal player who’s attitude to the game and his team has earned him the honour of having the Queensland Reds Pilecki Medal named in his honour.

Tom Lawton Jnr (1980s)

With rich traditions of Rugby in his family, Tom Lawton Jnr was destined for a career in representative Rugby. He played in the Australian Schoolboys’ team in 1980, and Queensland Under 21 in 1982, before debuting for Queensland in 1984. This was not before Lawton debuted for Australia in 1983 in France.

The prototype for the modern hooker, the 120kg Lawton was indisputably the world’s best in this position during the Wallabies reign during the 1980s, most notably leading the Australian scrum to its epochal pushover try against Wales at the Arms Park during the 1984 Grand Slam tour. He was ever present as Australia continued on its winning ways in NZ in 1986, and he played in the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987, and played his final test against the 1989 British & Irish Lions. He achieved renown in South Africa after playing for a World XV against the Centenary Springboks, then staying on to help Natal to their first Currie Cup in a 100 year history.

Along with his legendary grandfather Tom Snr, and his Wallaby brother Rob, Lawton forms one of the great Queensland Rugby families.

Tom Richards (1900/10s)

Tom Richards is known as one of the most colourful Rugby players the world has known. An adventurer, Richards played in representative teams in Australia, South Africa, Britain, America and France, gathering an unrivalled collection of honour caps.

Debuting for Queensland in 1908, he is rated among the greatest loose forwards Rugby has seen. He had extraordinary strength and a mastery of Rugby skills and tactics, which delighted fans throughout the world. He was both a thrilling individualists and superb team player.

Richards was the only player to ever play for both Australia and the British Lions. The Tom Richards Trophy, contested for between the Wallabies and the British and Irish Lions, is named in his honour.

In 2005 he was honoured as one of the inaugural five inductees into the Australian Rugby Union Hall of Fame.

In 1908, The Times described him as “the first man to be picked for Earth if we were ever to play Mars!"

Tom Welsby (1883-1939)

To many the father of Queensland Rugby, Tom Welsby debuted for Queensland in August of 1882 in Sydney when he was manager and halfback for Queensland's first inter-colonial Rugby Union Team.

Welsby played an integral role in the formation of the Queensland Rugby Union. In November of 1883 he was elected as the first Treasurer and Secretary of the Northern Rugby Union, which would ultimately become the Queensland Rugby Union.

Welsby helped to revive the code in 1928, the same year he was appointed a life member of the Queensland Rugby Union before becoming president in 1929 until 1939.In addition to his half a century as a servant of Queensland Rugby, Welsby was a renowned philanthropist, author and politician. He donated the Welsby Cup, which is still contested for today in the Brisbane Premier Grade competition.

Toutai Kefu (2000s)

Toutai Kefu was a big, quick and powerfully built stand out school boy performer before making his debut for Queensland in 1995 going on to win 103 caps for the State.

He made his Test debut at the age of 23 on 23 August 1997 as a replacement during the 1997 Tri Nations Series match against South Africa.

He gained his first starting appearance for the Wallabies in 1998 in their record 76-0 win over England, which still remains the biggest losing margin that England has suffered.

He played a vital role in the Australian side that lifted the 1999 Rugby World Cup, scoring against Romania in the opening game.

One of his finest moments came in John Eales' final game for the Wallabies when he scored the try which beat the All Blacks, gave the retiring Skipper a winning record against the New Zealanders and the perfect send off.

In 2007 Kefu signed with Japanese team Kubota Spears before taking up the role of assistant coach of Tonga in preparation for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Vayro Wilson (1930s)

Vayro Wilson was popular, companionable and a keen student of Rugby tactics who was an automatic choice for the Queensland team from 1935 to 1939.

Wilson made his Test debut as a second-rower in the two-match series against South Africa in 1937. The following year selectors opted for a new look team to play the three Tests against New Zealand and brought Wilson in as captain.

Wilson remained captain for the Wallabies tour of England in 1939, only to arrive the day before World War II broke out.

Wilson returned to Australia when the war broke out but returned to England for the war effort. He died at sea when returning to Australia in 1962, aged 50.

Anselm “Voy” Oxenham (1900s)

Voy Oxenham debuted for Queensland in 1904. He captained Queensland in seven of his 21 appearances for the State.

Oxenham claimed a total of 2 international Rugby caps for Australia with his debut game against Great Britain, in Brisbane, on 23 July 1904.

He was one of three Oxenhams to play for Queensland, but was the only member of the family to go on and play for Australia.